ABSTRACT
A natural history periodical appeared almost yearly, and one appeared in London in 1841, The Phytologist, which met the needs of Hewett Cottrell Watson and Botanical Society of London (BSL). By November 1840, Watson had given up his phrenological involvements, and although a member of BSE, he was nevertheless interested in seeing what he could make of BSL. Watson was glad to become one of BSL's two Vice-Presidents, an honorary position which he could nevertheless exploit. BSL had been industrious in obtaining exchange specimens from its members, but it needed someone knowledgable and efficient enough to run its exchange program. There was, however, a disparity between the priorities of Watson and many, probably most, BSL members. His goal was to acquire a collection of specimens of each species of British plants in the different parts of its range in order to advance plant geography and to document morphological differences which might develop in response to environmental differences.
